29 September 2003

The Northvaal Junior Championships took place this weekend at the Aeolians Club on the Vaal Dam with the regatta ending today.

It sounds like a very interesting regatta not least because of the particularly low Optimist entry. Only 18 boats were entered into this regatta, something that has to be very alarming for the powers that be as this has always been one of the strongest classes in the country, attracting good fleets to all its provincial championships. Apparently there was a provincial championship in the Eastern Cape that clashed with this event and I believe that it also included the Laser 4.7 fleet. In this regard it was very interesting, and encouraging, noting that a strong fleet of 23 Dabchicks contested the Northvaal Champs. Not only were the numbers good but it was a strong fleet too with a number of sailors on the entry list. I am told that the racing throughout the regatta was very close in this class and that too is a good sign.

The regatta started on Saturday with a good 15 or so knots of breeze allowing 5 races to be sailed. In the Optimist fleet Rudi McNeil was in a class of his own and dominated the day. From a KZN perspective it was good to see that the top three places were dominated by KZN sailors with Vincenzo DeGenaro and Sam Hancock in second and third places respectively at the end of the day.

In the Dabchick fleet Peter Funke didn't quite have it all his own way but was definitely the dominant force on the day to lead the regatta after the first five races. In second place was James Hogg while occupied third spot.

The wind got so strong on Saturday evening that many had to get out of their beds to go and ties their boats down in order to prevent them from blowing away. That wasn't a sign of things to come on Sunday though which was a completely windless day, leaving on shore with no races sailed. There was a bright and early 08:30 start on Monday morning though in an attempt to get a race in the early morning breeze.

It wasn't to be though and it was quite a lot later until the wind settled and five further races were able to be sailed. Nothing changed in the Optimist fleet where Rudi McNeil continued to dominate but there was a big change of affairs in the Dabchick fleet where Brigitt Clayton stole the top spot. She put in a good performance in shifty conditions to win the regatta, relegating overnight leader Peter Funke to second place.

Despite the loss of the middle day, always a potential problem on the Vaal Dam, it sounds like this was another good regatta at this venue. That the numbers in the Oppi fleet were a bit down is concerning but I am sure that this wont be a long term effect.

Next week the juniors will be in action at Midmar where the KZN Junior Champs are taking place at HMYC. The results of the Northvaal Junior Champs are as follows: